Battery pack, holster, and extendible processing and interface platform for mobile devices

• US 9,172,070 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel, Brand, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US14/517,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20150084593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/107, 320/114, 320/115, 429/100
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A battery pack is provided for a mobile communication device, comprising a casing defining a cavity that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device and one or more rechargeable power cells housed within the thickness of the casing. An internal interface engages a corresponding interface on the mobile communication device to provide power from the one or more rechargeable cells to the mobile communication device. An external interface is electrically coupled to the internal interface in order to transmit signals from the mobile communication device to an external device and may further serve to recharge the one or more rechargeable power cells. The battery pack may also serve as an extendible platform by providing additional integrated communication interfaces and/or processors that can be utilized by the mobile communication device to extend its communication and/or processing capabilities.

Claims

1. A protective battery case for use with a mobile electronic device, the protective battery case comprising:

a lower casing portion comprising;

a battery;

a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back side of a mobile electronic device;

a lower right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a lower right side of the mobile electronic device;

a lower left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a lower left side of the mobile electronic device;

a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device;

an open top side to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the lower casing portion;

an internal interface extending upward from the bottom wall, the internal interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device, wherein the battery is coupled to the internal interface to enable the provision of electrical power to the mobile electronic device through the internal interface, and wherein the internal interface is configured to permit transfer of data to or from the mobile electronic device;

an external interface configured to receive electrical power to recharge the battery, wherein the external interface is electrically coupled to the internal interface to enable the mobile electronic device to communicate with an external device via the internal interface and the external interface while the mobile electronic device is mounted in the protective battery case;

a user input element configured to enable a user to start and stop charging from the battery to the mobile electronic device; and

an upper casing portion configured to removably couple to the lower casing portion to form a casing that is configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device, wherein the upper casing portion comprises;

a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

an upper right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of an upper right side of the mobile electronic device; and

an upper left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of an upper left side of the mobile electronic device;

wherein a front opening of the protective battery case is configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.

2. The protective battery case of claim 1, wherein the user input element comprises a switch that is movable between an on position and an off position, wherein the battery case is configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when the switch is in the on position and to not deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when the switch is in the off position.

3. The protective battery case of claim 1, wherein the battery is positioned to be behind the back side of the mobile electronic device.

4. The protective battery case of claim 1, wherein the battery is housed within a thickness of the back wall.

5. The protective battery case of claim 1, further comprising a charge indicator configured to indicate the charge status of the battery.

6. The protective battery case of claim 5, wherein the charge indicator is disposed on a back side of the back wall.

7. The protective battery case of claim 1, wherein the external interface comprises a USB port.

8. The protective battery case of claim 1, wherein the protective battery case is configured to receive a mobile phone.

9. The protective battery case of claim 8, wherein the battery case is shaped to conform to the external shape of the mobile phone without significantly affecting the size and usability of the mobile phone.

10. The protective battery case of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the protective battery case is less than twice the thickness of the mobile electronic device.

11. A protective battery case for use with a mobile electronic device, the protective battery case comprising:

a first casing portion comprising;

a battery;

a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back side of a mobile electronic device;

a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device;

an open top side to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the first casing portion;

an internal interface extending from the bottom wall, the internal interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device, wherein the battery is coupled to the internal interface to provide electrical power to the mobile electronic device through the internal interface, and wherein the internal interface is configured to permit transfer of data to or from the mobile electronic device;

an external interface configured to receive electrical power to recharge the battery, wherein the external interface is electrically coupled to the internal interface to enable the mobile electronic device to communicate with an external device via the internal interface and the external interface while the mobile electronic device is mounted in the protective battery case;

a user input element configured to enable a user to start and stop charging from the battery to the mobile electronic device; and

a second casing portion configured to removably couple to the first casing portion to form a casing that is configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device, wherein the second casing portion comprises;

a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

a right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device; and

a left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device;

wherein a front opening of the protective battery case is configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.

12. The protective battery case of claim 11, wherein the user input element comprises a switch that is movable between an on position and an off position, wherein the battery case is configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when the switch is in the on position and to not deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when the switch is in the off position.

13. The protective battery case of claim 11, wherein the battery is positioned to be behind the back side of the mobile electronic device.

14. The protective battery case of claim 11, wherein the battery is housed within a thickness of the back wall.

15. The protective battery case of claim 11, further comprising a charge indicator configured to indicate the charge status of the battery.

16. The protective battery case of claim 15, wherein the charge indicator is disposed on a back side of the back wall.

17. The protective battery case of claim 11, wherein the external interface comprises a USB port.

18. The protective battery case of claim 11, wherein the protective battery case is configured to receive a mobile phone.

19. The protective battery case of claim 18, wherein the battery case is shaped to conform to the external shape of the mobile phone without significantly affecting the size and usability of the mobile phone.

20. The protective battery case of claim 11, wherein a thickness of the protective battery case is less than twice the thickness of the mobile electronic device.

21. A protective battery case for use with a mobile electronic device, the protective battery case comprising:

(i) a housing having a first section and a second section that are configured to removably engage each other to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device and to disengage from each other to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the housing, wherein when the first section and the second section are engaged with each other the housing comprises;

(1) a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back side of a mobile electronic device;

(2) a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device;

(3) a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

(4) a right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device;

(5) a left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device; and

(6) a front opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening;

ii) a battery disposed in the housing;

iii) an internal interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device, wherein the battery is coupled to the internal interface to provide electrical power to the mobile electronic device through the internal interface, and wherein the internal interface is configured to permit transfer of data to or from the mobile electronic device;

iv) an external interface configured to receive electrical power to recharge the battery, wherein the external interface is electrically coupled to the internal interface to enable the mobile electronic device to communicate with an external device via the internal interface and the external interface while the mobile electronic device is mounted in the protective battery case; and

v) a user input element configured to enable a user to start and stop charging from the battery to the mobile electronic device.

22. The protective battery case of claim 21, wherein the user input element comprises a switch that is movable between an on position and an off position, wherein the battery case is configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when the switch is in the on position and to not deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when the switch is in the off position.

23. The protective battery case of claim 21, wherein the battery is positioned to be behind the back side of the mobile electronic device.

24. The protective battery case of claim 21, wherein the battery is housed within a thickness of the back wall.

25. The protective battery case of claim 21, further comprising a charge indicator configured to indicate the charge status of the battery.

26. The protective battery case of claim 25, wherein the charge indicator is disposed on a back side of the back wall.

27. The protective battery case of claim 21, wherein the external interface comprises a USB port.

28. The protective battery case of claim 21, wherein the protective battery case is configured to receive a mobile phone.

29. The protective battery case of claim 28, wherein the battery case is shaped to conform to the external shape of the mobile phone without significantly affecting the size and usability of the mobile phone.

30. The protective battery case of claim 21, wherein a thickness of the protective battery case is less than twice the thickness of the mobile electronic device.